The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-09-14

tanneries, and the farm-houses were
ransacked for any articles in which
leather was used. Old trunks were
cut up, and particularly the ample
skirts, then in use, Of saddles. If the
owner of such saddle did not speed
lily utilize its heavy flaps for his own
use some one else would steal them.
Shoeless men could not resist the
temptation of such saddle, and in
stances were frequent where the owner,
having left his horse saddled and tied
to q post, returned to find his saddle
innocent Of skirts. Such thefts oc-
Cured even outside of churches. The
flap of the saddle went out of use, and
the rawhide saddle without it came in
use universally. Sole leather became
so scarce and high that the people
resorted to wood as substitute for
the soles of shoes. These "wooden
bottoms" as they were called, con
sisted of sole and heel all in a
solid piece. 1t was cut out of maple
or gum wood as arule, Sometimes with
a knit, aglin by rude machinery.
| La CT such wood ,ttoms were sold by
number of expert makers, who kept
| on hand various SIZE, of mems wear.
Farm hands wore them largely. From
The middle the sole turned up toward
the toe, so that the foot in walking
would have rolling motion forward,
which was necessary, us the rigid sole
co Id not bend. Into a groove cut
around the upper edge of the wooden
bottom the upper leather was secured
by means of wooden pegs or iron tacks,
when the latter could be had. 1t was
found that the wood bottom made a
dry, warm shoe, and after little
practice one was worn without special
Inconvenience. The heel and sole
were always protected by narrow
strips of iron around the edges to pre-
vent rapid wear. The shoes made
great deal Of noise when used in the
house or on hard ground, and nights
when there was stiffness in the air
and the ground was frozen hard, the
footsteps of brisk walkers thus shod
were easily heard at distance of half
mile. Old men had difficulty in get-
, ting accustomed to this rude and new
footgear aud one venerable man de-
,, clared that he wished the Cpl agued
things had never been agitated." In
j, snow walking with these shoes was
difficult. as the snow "balled' as it
;, does in horses hoof.
: Kerosene oil had not been in use a
great while when the war began, but
:, had yet practically displaced the can.
!. die. The lack of oil rendered the
lamps useless, and the tallow candle
9 became supreme. In the matter Of
light, as in other things. there were
- inventions. One of these was n taper,
- which was made by drawing thick
- wick of loosely twisted cotton through
Il pan OF melted beeswax and rosin
4 This operation was repeated until thu
i wick, which was generally twenty tt
- fifty yards in length. was the size of ;
at pencil and looked like rope of yellow
!. wax While it was yet warm, this wic(
was wound on a bottle or corn
- cob often in fantastic shapes. On
H end turned up, was lighted, and thu
n taper was placed upon the table a
n supper time, or for reading light
ID Such taper burned slowly, but ye
- had to be watched and turned up
From time to time the burning en-
= was unwound and pulled up. Some
:, times there was carelessness and tn
"a entire taper caught on fire from til
u wick. Another device for light was
ho saucer or platter of melted lard, i
T. which floated a ball from the sycamor
ha or cotton wood tree. These ball:
ho which were dry and absorbent an
Iv quite infammable, burned readily, &C
l.. ing as wick and keeping the lar
ho melted. One ball gave fully as muc
80 light as an ordinary kerosene LAM
~ The tallow dip. the wax taper and tt
- candle each had their advocate:
Other people, who desired amore poy
ne erful Illumination, returned to an eve
ln- more primitive custom and use pir
"e knots, which in the fireplace made
ao glare which made room all ablaz
NO with light.
ire People, in the country, particula
nd ly, were put to great straits for wri
es. ing paper and envelopes. All old lie
We tiers were resurrected, and all exit
an sheets of paper removed therefor
al Old letters written on one side of Il
In paper were again brought out, al
c., the other side used. Old books we
try cut up, and the paper taken for tf
OF purpose. Envelopes were cut out
md any kind of paper by the use of
nd. sharp knife and a wooden patter
lit Cherry tree or peach tree gum fur
the ished the mucilage, being dissolved
ln- vinegar. These envelopes We're oft
'ot- made by children. and sold at frc
the three dollars to six dollars per pa'
in Confederate or State current
hat Many letters were mailed in the {
'ee- style of century since, without e
eo- velopes. Goose quilts furnished per
mi as of yore. and buzzard and turk
ing quilts were also used. Polkberri
avs elderberries and the gals of the I
her oak tree furnished ink, coperas bel
ere used in the solution. Sharpened b'
md of lead were used as pencils. while
lte. slate pencils old states were cut up
AIDE to narrow strips and rounded witt
ks, knife. Occasionally a partially c